podguy-clip-cutter

# podguy Clip Cutter Use this skill when the user asks to cut, export, render, or prepare short-form/social clips from a podcast or video podcast. This skill complements `podguy-post-production`: - pi does editorial judgment and chooses candidate moments - `scripts/cut_clips.py` does deterministic ffmpeg cutting - generated media stays under gitignored `dist/analysis/` ## Sample media When a real video-podcast fixture is useful, run: ```bash scripts/download_sample_media.sh ``` This downloads a local excerpt from Cordkillers 572 under `dist/test-fixtures/open-license/cordkillers-572/` with attribution. The default 00:08:00-00:11:50 excerpt includes a three-person podcast layout, lower thirds, chat/sidebar graphics, a Patreon bumper, and an outro/interstitial card. ## Inputs to gather Identify: 1. Source media path: original recording, draft export, or preview export. 2. Episode slug: e.g. `ep006`. 3. Clip candidate file: - default: `dist/analysis/<slug>/clips.md` - also supported: `.txt`, `.csv`, or `.json` with start/end ranges 4. Output intent: - review cuts in original aspect - vertical Shorts/TikTok/Reels exports - square or horizontal variants If the user has not selected clip candidates yet, run the normal clip workflow first and write `dist/analysis/<slug>/clips.md`. ## Clip candidate format The cutter accepts ranges in Markdown/plain text, CSV, or JSON. Markdown example: ```md ## Why this market flipped - 00:12:14 - 00:13:08 — Strong contrarian claim with a clean payoff. ``` CSV example: ```csv title,start,end Why this market flipped,00:12:14,00:13:08 ``` JSON example: ```json { "clips": [{ "title": "Why this market flipped", "start": "00:12:14", "end": "00:13:08" }] } ``` ## Commands Original-aspect review cuts: ```bash uv run python scripts/cut_clips.py \ <input-media> \ dist/analysis/<slug>/clips.md \ dist/analysis/<slug>/clips/cuts ``` Vertical review exports for TikTok/Reels/YouTube Shorts: ```bash uv run python scripts/cut_clips.py \ <input-media> \ dist/analysis/<slug>/clips.md \ dist/analysis/<slug>/clips/shorts \ --aspect vertical \ --pad-start 1 \ --pad-end 1 ``` Useful options: - `--limit N` cuts only the first N parsed clips - `--pad-start SECONDS` and `--pad-end SECONDS` add review handles - `--aspect source|vertical|square|horizontal` controls simple framing - `--copy` is faster for original-aspect cuts but may be less frame-accurate - `--dry-run` writes/prints commands without producing media ## Output locations Recommended paths: - `dist/analysis/<slug>/clips.md` — selected candidates - `dist/analysis/<slug>/clips/cuts/` — original-aspect review exports - `dist/analysis/<slug>/clips/shorts/` — vertical review exports - `dist/analysis/<slug>/clips/*/manifest.json` — machine-readable export manifest ## Quality guidance For social/short-form exports, prefer candidates that: - start with a hook or clear tension - make sense with minimal prior context - contain a payoff, reversal, punchline, or memorable phrase - land in roughly 20-90 seconds for Shorts/TikTok, unless the user asks otherwise - have a clean ending or can be padded slightly for handles Avoid exporting moments that: - depend heavily on an earlier setup - are mainly housekeeping or sponsor reads - require lots of visual context that a center crop will lose - contain unresolved cross-talk or dead air ## Caveats - The script can center-crop vertical/square versions, but it does not track speakers or intelligently reframe shots. - Treat outputs as review exports, not final mastered social edits. - If vertical crop might cut off slides or side-by-side speakers, explicitly warn the user and suggest manual reframing in the editor. ## References - Cutter: [../../scripts/cut_clips.py](../../scripts/cut_clips.py) - Open-license sample downloader: [../../scripts/download_sample_media.sh](../../scripts/download_sample_media.sh) - Clip prompt: [../../prompts/clips.md](../../prompts/clips.md) - Cut-clips prompt: [../../prompts/cut-clips.md](../../prompts/cut-clips.md)